21 replies to this topic

[CoolColJ]

Spring 28th September 2018

 

 

Found a new species of termites here
And it will easier to keep, as they were nesting on their food source - outer edge of tree and bark

I was randomly ripping off bark from a tree when I went ant queen hunting in the bush, and boom I see termites
This species is much larger than the subterranean ones I have been keeping

Also faster and less fragile, as fast as an average ant, so capturing was a bit harder,

There were 3 main castes I could see.
Large workers, small soldiers, and much larger major soldiers with big mandibles

It was hard to scoop them into my capture vial without crushing them.
But I tried to hold the vial next to the tree, and as I ripped bark off they would fall inside.
In future I will come back and with a larger container, and a soft brush and scoop them in that way

Also collected some bark off the tree to use as food/shelter

the 3 castes together

click for bigger


6mm for major soldier and 4mm for small soldier sounds about right.
worker is about 5-6mm

Video


large soldier


worker


When they nested inside the capture vial

Edited by CoolColJ, October 6 2018 - 3:30 AM.

[Major]

You can always expect awsome stuff from your journals! Excited to see how these termites go!

[CoolColJ]

Schedorhinotermes seem to be doing well in the glass petri dish I temporarily put them in, as seen in the video earlier.
I kept the lid shut, but there should be micro gaps for air.
They like to hang out on the folded damp toilet paper sometimes.
It's like their base, but they do go and forage in the tree bark

The next time I go past the tree I'll grab some more of em to try the test tube method

For now the 90mm glass petri dish will do - visibility is good

I have a red film sheet ontop and they don't mind it.
Even when I remove it they are still OK, it's only when I remove the glass top do they scatter

click to enlarge



Just moments after removing the lid

[CoolColJ]

2nd October 2018

 

Added a few drops of water onto the damp folded toilet paper last night

So far so good, I only see 1 dead minor soldier.

 

I opened the nest up and looked under the toilet paper, and saw a whole bunch of termites under it

[CoolColJ]

I went back to the tree I found these on, and there is no sign of them!

I ripped more bark off, but all the tunnels look empty...
Will check the other side of the tree next time.
They may come back in a few week time

[CoolColJ]

Curious to see if I put in a large thick chunk of folded damp toilet paper, whether they would tunnel into it

[CoolColJ]

Spring 6th October 2018

 

Added a second damp toilet paper piece to the nest - 3 sheets folded over 3 times to and molded form a 1x1 inch pillow of about 1cm thickness

 

I put it on the opposite side of the current damp toilet paper.

The termites found it pretty quickly after a general alarm phase, and now all the termites are running all over it while doing the alarm head butt

 

Up till now, I see the termite forage throughout the day among the pieces of wood/bark.

And then at times no activity, and they can be all found chilling under the first toilet paper piece.

With 1-2 soldiers up top.

 

I have seen no deaths since the first minor soldier.

Edited by CoolColJ, October 6 2018 - 3:30 AM.

[CoolColJ]

Measured humidity at centre of the 90mm glass petri dish setup at 80%
Room RH at 49%

Edited by CoolColJ, October 6 2018 - 4:53 AM.

[Nare]

Measured humidity at centre of the 90mm glass petri dish setup at 80%
Room RH at 49%

I've been meaning to get myself some petri dishes - I think I'll try something similar to what you've done. Also, more pics?

[CoolColJ]

Checked under the second toilet piece and there are no termites under it, they still favour the original smaller piece



a quick look under the smaller toilet piece - you can see a bit of that termite substrate

Edited by CoolColJ, October 6 2018 - 9:32 PM.

[CoolColJ]

The last time I lifted and looked under the smaller of the two damp Toilet paper, I didn't place it back properly so the under areas are partly exposed.
And now I can see the termites chilling under there

[CoolColJ]

Spring 16th October 2018

 

I checked under both toilet paper pieces, and now 75% of the termites live under the large one.

25% in the smaller one.

 

They all looked alive and well.

 

Although lifting the lid of the glass petri dish does release a strong damp/mold smell....

[Nare]

Spring 16th October 2018

 

I checked under both toilet paper pieces, and now 75% of the termites live under the large one.

25% in the smaller one.

 

They all looked alive and well.

 

Although lifting the lid of the glass petri dish does release a strong damp/mold smell....

Perhaps you should consider adding some springtails to your setup? I wanted to try it out myself, though I'm afraid it may be too cold to find any.

[CoolColJ]

I could, but my cultures are not that dense yet, and not sure it's humid enough for them

This setup is not damp enough to kill the termites in any case and it's only the damp areas that would, the wood is dry

Edited by CoolColJ, October 16 2018 - 3:06 PM.

[CoolColJ]

Spring 19th October 2018

 

all the termites under the small toilet paper bit have died... I see half eaten bodies.

There are some under the larger toilet paper.

But not too much activity anymore outside.

Soldiers don't come outside when I open the lid

[FSTP]

Spring 19th October 2018

 

all the termites under the small toilet paper bit have died... I see half eaten bodies.

There are some under the larger toilet paper.

But not too much activity anymore outside.

Soldiers don't come outside when I open the lid

 

 

 

that's really a shame. What do you thin happened? That was some really nice punky looking wood too. It looed great for the terms.

[CoolColJ]

 

Spring 19th October 2018

 

all the termites under the small toilet paper bit have died... I see half eaten bodies.

There are some under the larger toilet paper.

But not too much activity anymore outside.

Soldiers don't come outside when I open the lid

 

 

 

that's really a shame. What do you thin happened? That was some really nice punky looking wood too. It looed great for the terms.

 

 

 

I don;t know

The setup does smell moldy, so maybe that.

But so far it seems humidity is real tricky to get right.

My other species in the small vial, with dirt is self sustaining, never have to water it as it condenses inside.

[CoolColJ]

Spring 21st October 2018

 

RIP


all dead

[Nare]

Spring 21st October 2018

 

RIP


all dead

It's always a shame to have your termites die on you. I'm not sure how viable this species was for creating ergatoid reproductives anyways. Did you ever try the toilet paper test tube with this species? I suspect they're similar enough to the species that I keep that you may have more success in such a setup. And again, springtails would help, although I too am having trouble getting them started.

[CoolColJ]

It's always a shame to have your termites die on you. I'm not sure how viable this species was for creating ergatoid reproductives anyways. Did you ever try the toilet paper test tube with this species? I suspect they're similar enough to the species that I keep that you may have more success in such a setup. And again, springtails would help, although I too am having trouble getting them started.

No, I didn't have enough termites on hand to try it

My best setup so far is the current Nasutitermes one in the small capture plastic vial.
Zero maintenance, and no smell of mold.
All termites very much alive and thriving

perhaps the dirt is the key...

Edited by CoolColJ, October 20 2018 - 7:46 PM.